Flammability and Thermal Oxidative Degradation Kinetics of Magnesium Hydroxide and Expandable Graphite Flame Retarded Polypropylene Composites

The flammability and the thermal oxidative degradation kinetics of expandable graphite (EG) with magnesium hydroxide (MH) in flame‐retardant polypropylene (PP) composites were studied by limiting oxygen index (LOI), UL‐94 test, and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). The results show that EG is a good synergist for improving the flame retardancy of PP/MH composite and the effect is enhanced with decreasing EG particle size. The Kissinger method and Flynn‐Wall‐Ozawa method were used to determine the apparent activation energy (E) for degradation of PP and flame retarded PP composites. The data obtained from the TGA curve indicate that EG markedly increases the thermal degradation temperature of PP/MH composites and improves the thermal stability of the composites. The kinetic results show that the values of E for degradation of flame retarded PP composites is much higher than that of neat PP, especially PP/MH composites with suitable amount of EG, which indicates that the flame retardants used in this work have a great effect on the mechanisms of pyrolysis and combustion of PP.     

Coupling of ultrasound‐assisted extraction and expanded bed adsorption for simplified medicinal plant processing and its theoretical model: Extraction and enrichment of ginsenosides from Radix Ginseng as a case study

A high‐efficient and environmental‐friendly method for the preparation of ginsenosides from Radix Ginseng using the method of coupling of ultrasound‐assisted extraction with expanded bed adsorption is described. Based on the optimal extraction conditions screened by surface response methodology, ginsenosides were extracted and adsorbed, then eluted by the two‐step elution protocol. The comparison results between the coupling of ultrasound‐assisted extraction with expanded bed adsorption method and conventional method showed that the former was better than the latter in both process efficiency and greenness. The process efficiency and energy efficiency of the coupling of ultrasound‐assisted extraction with expanded bed adsorption method rapidly increased by 1.4‐fold and 18.5‐fold of the conventional method, while the environmental cost and CO₂ emission of the conventional method were 12.9‐fold and 17.0‐fold of the new method. Furthermore, the theoretical model for the extraction of targets was derived. The results revealed that the theoretical model suitably described the process of preparing ginsenosides by the coupling of ultrasound‐assisted extraction with expanded bed adsorption system.     

A correlation between the variable melt flow index and the molecular mass distribution of virgin and recycled polypropylene used in the manufacturing of battery cases

This study looked at establishing a correlation between the variable melt flow index (VMFI) values of molten polypropylene (PP) with different piston-load masses using a standard MFI analyser. The study was done using virgin PP and recycled PP obtained from recycling Pb-acid batteries. The study showed that the results would fit a suitable power function equation where the size of the exponent reflects the increase in flow characteristics of the polymer with increased piston-load mass. The established correlation was then compared to the average molecular weight distribution of virgin PP determined by gel permeation chromatography (GPC). Good agreement was obtained for the range of grades of virgin PP samples that correlated well with the Mark-Houwink power law where the inverse of the MFI (1/MFI) would be proportional to the average molecular weight to the power of 3.4 (Mw^3.4). GPC analysis cannot be effectively used to study recycled PP, where a number of factors can influence the melt flow properties such as fillers, impurities and the presence of polyethylene in the polymer matrix. Instead, a comparative understanding of the flow behaviour of recycled PP to that of virgin PP was done by using the VMFI method to possibly show the dissimilar polymer melt flow behaviour of using virgin and recycled PP material in injection moulding of new battery cases and lids, or when attempting to seal the lid to the battery case during manufacturing.     

Application of New Modified Poly(ethylene Oxide)-Block-Poly(propylene oxide)-Block-Poly(ethylene oxide) Copolymers as Demulsifier for Petroleum Crude Oil Emulsion

Water soluble nonionic amphiphilic block copolymers based on hydrophilic poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) and hydrophobic poly(propylene glycol) (PPG) were prepared. Poly(ethylene glycol)-block-poly(propylene glycol)-block-poly(ethylene glycol) copolymers, PEG-PPG-PEG, were prepared in the normal condition. The chemical composition and molecular weights of the prepared copolymers were determined from ¹H NMR and GPC techniques. The surface properties of the prepared surfactants were determined by measuring the surface tension at different temperatures. The prepared nonionic surfactants were evaluated as demulsifiers for water in crude-oil emulsions that were pronounced at different ratios of crude oil: water at 318 K and 333 K. The experimental results showed that the dehydration rate of the prepared demulsifiers reached 100% based on demulsifier chemical compositions and concentrations.     

A new reagent for the synthesis of [26]hexaphyrin: N-sulfonyl aldimine

The selective synthesis of [26]hexaphyrin(1.1.1.1.1.1) has been achieved by the reaction of meso-substituted tripyrrane and N-sulfonyl aldimine. The protocol is simple and requires only a catalytic amount of copper(II) triflate under mild reaction conditions.     

膨胀石墨负载钯纳米颗粒催化六价铬还原反应

采用高分子辅助的浸渍还原法,制备得到膨胀石墨(EG)负载的纳米钯催化剂(Pd-EG),采用X射线衍射(XRD)、透射电子显微镜(TEM)、X射线光电子能谱(XPS)等手段对催化剂组成、结构、形貌和价态进行了表征,并考察了Pd-EG催化剂在六价铬还原反应中的活性.结果表明,催化剂中纳米钯颗粒均匀分散在膨胀石墨上,平均粒径为4.37 nm,金属负载量质量分数为0.446%.该催化剂对六价铬还原反应具有良好的催化性能,可将六价铬完全转化为三价铬,在pH=4.0及45℃条件下反应转化频率(TOF)达到3186 h-1;催化剂经过多次重复使用后的活性仍保持稳定.     

Self‐Regulation in Flow‐Induced Structure Formation of Polypropylene

Flow‐induced structure formation is investigated with in situ wide‐angle X‐ray diffraction with high acquisition rate (30 Hz) using isotactic polypropylene in a piston‐driven slit flow with high wall shear rates (up to ≈900 s⁻¹). We focus on crystallization within the shear layers that form in the high shear rate regions near the walls. Remarkably, the kinetics of the crystallization process show no dependence on either flow rate or flow time; the crystallization progresses identically regardless. Stronger or longer flows only increase the thickness of the layers. A conceptual model is proposed to explain the phenomenon. Above a certain threshold, the number of shish‐kebabs formed affects the rheology such that further structure formation is halted. The critical amount is reached already within 0.1 s under the current flow conditions. The change in rheology is hypothesized to be a consequence of the “hairy” nature of shish. Our results have large implications for process modelling, since they suggest that for injection molding type flows, crystallization kinetics can be considered independent of deformation history.

     

Composite Polybenzimidazole Membrane with High Capacity Retention for Vanadium Redox Flow Batteries

Currently, energy storage technologies are becoming essential in the transition of replacing fossil fuels with more renewable electricity production means. Among storage technologies, redox flow batteries (RFBs) can represent a valid option due to their unique characteristic of decoupling energy storage from power output. To push RFBs further into the market, it is essential to include low-cost materials such as new generation membranes with low ohmic resistance, high transport selectivity, and long durability. This work proposes a composite membrane for vanadium RFBs and a method of preparation. The membrane was prepared starting from two polymers, meta-polybenzimidazole (6 μm) and porous polypropylene (30 μm), through a gluing approach by hot-pressing. In a vanadium RFB, the composite membrane exhibited a high energy efficiency (~84%) and discharge capacity (~90%) with a 99% capacity retention over 90 cycles at 120 mA·cm⁻², exceeding commercial Nafion^® NR212 (~82% efficiency, capacity drop from 90% to 40%) and Fumasep^® FAP-450 (~76% efficiency, capacity drop from 80 to 65%).     

长链支化聚丙烯的非线性流变行为

通过大幅振荡剪切试验方法, 研究了长链支化聚丙烯的非线性流变学行为, 揭示了长链支化结构与非线性黏弹响应的关系. 利用傅里叶变换流变学方法得到试样的三次倍频相对振幅I_3/1与应变的标度关系, 用于界定线性聚丙烯和长链支化聚丙烯非线性流变行为的差异, 并定义了非线性系数来量度长链支化程度. 在高应变下, I_3/1与应变的变化关系可以进一步描述长链支化在非线性流场下的特性, 并得到了长链支化程度与其非线性响应之间的变化关系. 通过应力波的Lissajous曲线分解, 发现了环内和环间黏弹性的差异, 长链支化结构在大应变流场下的非线性黏弹性响应弱于线性结构, 支化程度越高非线性响应越弱.     

辐射接枝法制备膨化聚四氟乙烯杂化膜及其抗菌性表征

通过共辐射接枝的方法,将聚丙烯酸成功接枝到膨化聚四氟乙烯薄膜上. 采用NaBH₄还原吸附在接枝链上的银离子,在膜中原位负载银纳米粒子,制备了抗菌性ePTFE杂化膜. 杂化膜的SEM、XPS、XRD和TGA表征结果表明,负载的银纳米粒子粒径为几十纳米至100 nm. 而银纳米粒子的负载量可由聚丙烯酸的接枝率控制. 细菌平板计数法测试结果证明,所制备的杂化膜具有优异的抗菌性,对大肠杆菌的抗菌率高达100%.